Stuff you take and don't use

[Jim Dodd]

Summer time I leave rain gear at home, and opt for an umbrella. I sweat in the rain gear, so it does little good. ​
I take too many pants and shirts.

 

[scoutergriz]

It's actually funny when you look at it. 30 years ago my needs would have been met (and sometimes were)with a piece of poly, some twine, a sleeping bag, a single sierra cup and spoon, and a bag of munchies.
Now, after a heart attack and broken back, I add a tent tall enough to stand in, a pad and air mattress, a folding chair, and a whole pile of other crap, but the old beat up sierra cup still comes too.

 

[Iskweo]

I'm with ya YC. I take three trips on a port cuz I break my loads down into 30lb maximums. It is the only way I can do that now. I leapfrog too instead of going all the way in one shot. Karin and I are still pretty fast when it comes to porting but that is from years of practice.

I have been eyeing a lawn chair in my back yard...the old aluminum framed, vinyl type strapping one.

 

[Canotrouge]

Now I think I have it dialled pretty good, most of what I bring I use other than some clothing cause we can't predict the weather up here, one minute it can be sunny the other it can be snowing even in July, so I always have a variety of clothing to make life easier. And the hunting rifle... Sometime I use.... Some time I don't....

 

[lowangle al]

Now I think I have it dialled pretty good, most of what I bring I use other than some clothing cause we can't predict the weather up here, one minute it can be sunny the other it can be snowing even in July, so I always have a variety of clothing to make life easier. And the hunting rifle... Sometime I use.... Some time I don't....

That about sums it up for me too, except I take a shot gun as well as bear spray for protection.

 

[ezDuzit]

A rule I try to follow, was stated in Steward Edward White's book " The Forest ". Make 3 piles after your trip, #1 Things you used everyday, #2 Things you used occasionally, #3 Things you never used. Stop bringing #3, consider not bringing #2, Bring pile #1. You'll save alot of time in packing & have an easier time finding things when you need them.

I sure like the wisdom in this.

 

[Guest]

A rule I try to follow, was stated in Steward Edward White's book " The Forest ". Make 3 piles after your trip, #1 Things you used everyday, #2 Things you used occasionally, #3 Things you never used. Stop bringing #3, consider not bringing #2, Bring pile #1.

Cool, I have heard that theory before but never knew its origin.

I still bring all of #1, essentially all of #2 and, depending on the trip, conditions, duration, remoteness and companions, at least some of #3. It varies a lot from trip to trip.

I have never been a light packer, and despite bringing more stuff than I did 20 years ago the gear load weight and volume has gotten smaller. Same stuff and more, just better materials, design and construction. And, I hope, more wisdom in applied use.

You'll save alot of time in packing & have an easier time finding things when you need them.

After some hundreds of trips packing is down to a near science. I use a comprehensive gear list, revised over the years, sequentially organized by gear storage areas. If I buckled down to it I could be packed and organized for any length or type of trip in 2 hours time, maybe less.

But I really enjoy the organized packing process, and would rather diddle with it slowly and thoughtfully over a couple of days. That thoughtfulness, for me, is one of the pleasures of packing. A detail oriented pleasure, checking batteries, choosing and inspecting gear, making notes on the list and swapping out this for that upon further deliberation.

The easier time finding things when you need them is for me resolved with better, or at least more familiar, organization.

If the same things, or types of things (tarp, tent, sleeping bag, clothing/rain gear, etc) go in the same bags, packed from the bottom up according to which is likely first needed/most accessible - - - and provided everything goes back into the same bag organization, in which pack, in which order - - - I know where everything is and where it goes.

A place for everything, and everything in its place. The only time I vary from that routine is packing camp on the least day, when my back-on-the-road or back at home disgorgement may have a different flavor sequence.

One organizational confession. I may be packing the boat for three days or three weeks, and it helps to know/remember what goes where for different trips. An open boat downriver weekend is very different from weeks in a decked canoe. I don’t remember what best went into which packs stored where, especially at first packing and loading. I have saved hand drawn schematic sketches of what fits and trims in which boats, and refer to that when packing gear, and even when loading the boat the first time.

Along those same lines, on family trips we rack four canoes, all gunwales down on four van crossbars, staggered over 11 feet of rain gutter, two positioned forward and two back. But I know I won’t remember which four boats fit best () () where, so I have a similar collection of sketches for every proven variation of family boat and group trip loading.

 

[dave0]

Solar Shower! Have every intention of using it and don't. This past weekend I actually filled it up, heated it up and then just looked at it... once. Still ain't gonna get rid of it cause ya know someday I might use it.

 

[Guest]

It's actually funny when you look at it. 30 years ago my needs would have been met (and sometimes were)with a piece of poly, some twine, a sleeping bag, a single sierra cup and spoon, and a bag of munchies.
Now, after a heart attack and broken back, I add a tent tall enough to stand in, a pad and air mattress, a folding chair, and a whole pile of other crap, but the old beat up sierra cup still comes too.

Griz, that got me grinning, thinking about a car camping companion of years gone by.

We for many years had an annual series of long weekend-of-river trips car camping schedule. State Park camping, day paddle a different river every day, eat and drink like kings back in camp.

My friend Rob habitually came with a total of three things; a fold out lounge chair, a sleeping bag and a guitar. He owned no car or boat, or much of anything else, but he was such a boon companion that folks would vie to drive him there toting a spare boat, and to feed him and shelter him under their tarp.

He lived better than I did on those trips, but I have don’t know every classic rock song on guitar.

 

[Seeker]

Love Breck's methodology. I have my normal load pretty much set, but I still find a few things I didn't use when I get back. The chief culprits are tools (folding saw, hatchet). Often, if it's a trip where I change camps every day, I'm just too tired to make a fire. I've also had trips where I carried too much in the way of clothing, forgetting that all-day exercise changes my metabolism. And if it's a trip with a partner, I always bring too much cookware (dutch oven, grill, extra pots, cutting board, etc), some of which doesn't get used (all depends on what partner brings for food).

 

[Canotrouge]

Our kitchen is in a box(wanigan) and that is never left with out. If I ever do a solo trip( never did a real solo trip) I would rethink that box for sure, but since I'm never alone the box is in. And in that box is everything needed to cook, make fire and set a tarp and if need be purifie water. There is not much in pile #3 anymore, other than a piece of clothing that didn't get use cause the weather was to nice or to nasty, but up here you don't really have a choice to bring a bit more since you can get snow in july!!! I'm leaving for 10 days on friday for a canoe base camp moose hunt, and we can get all kind of weather this time of the year so better be prepared than dead.

I to think I could be ready to go in about 2-4 hrs depending on food... but everything else other than food could be packed and ready in 2-3hrs!

 

[southcove]

I still bring all of #1, essentially all of #2 and, depending on the trip, conditions, duration, remoteness and companions, at least some of #3. It varies a lot from trip to trip.

I have never been a light packer, and despite bringing more stuff than I did 20 years ago the gear load weight and volume has gotten smaller. Same stuff and more, just better materials, design and construction.

And, I hope, more wisdom in applied use.

Mike, thank you for summing up what I haven't quite been able to put into words (though other folks who know me would be ready to admit their fatigue in listening to me as I try countless variations...) about my trip philosophy.

It has to be a pleasure, light work - from the mental noodling about where to go, to the planning, to the packing, sorting, organizing to the entire trip itself. The only part I really burn out on currently is the driving and travelling.